Manuel Pellegrini's side have opened the season with wins against Newcastle and Hull City Tigers either side of a 3-2 defeat to Cardiff City, as they look to improve on last season's second-place finish.

City have had a busy summer, featuring the signings of Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Stevan Jovetic, Alvaro Negredo and Martin Demichelis, which Aguero feels puts them on a level above their competition.

UP NEXTMan City's next five matches

Sep 14

Stoke City (A)

Sep 17

Viktoria Plzen (A)

Sep 22

Manchester United (H)

Sep 24

Wigan (H)

Sep 28

Aston Villa (A)

The striker told Gazzetta Dello Sport: "I am convinced we are stronger than last season. It will be a really competitive Premier League but we have a good squad to win and I would say we have a staff a little better than United and Chelsea.

"United will be our biggest rivals, even if they have changed coach, and then Chelsea with the return of [Jose] Mourinho. Tottenham have built a great squad and then there is always Liverpool.

"City have invested a lot for some years and is growing a lot and quickly. We know that we have to win and the new arrivals know that City wants to become one of the big teams."

The 25-year-old also revealed that he will be playing a different position to last season, with Pellegrini keen him to use further forward.

"Sometimes, with [previous manager Roberto] Mancini, I played more on the flanks and more behind the main striker," Aguero explained. "Roberto asked me to move around the box.

"But now, with new wide players like Navas and with [David] Silva, who plays on the left, Pellegrini has asked me to move further forward, almost up with the centre forward, and he asks me to move more in the area and link with [Yaya] Toure, Navas and Silva."

The Argentine also spoke of his delight at seeing former Manchester City team-mates Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez thriving following their moves back to Serie A in 2013.

"I am happy for him that he is at a great club like Juventus," Aguero said of his countryman. "It is an honour for Italian football to have someone like him - he will add quality to Serie A."

"Of [Balotelli], I remember only one phrase: 'F*** it!' He was always saying it. We got on well. We respect each other, he is like that, he likes to joke, he is a nice madman."